What is Under the Wood Stove Does Matter!

Selection of a new wood burning stove to install onto an existing hearth may be limited by the existing hearth's size and the construction. Call them stove pads, stove boards, hearths or just plain floor protection, what goes under the wood burning stove does matter.

Wood stoves since the late 1970s have been required to be tested to safety standards. This is commonly referred to the UL standard #1482. The manual of the tested product provides specifications for floor protection.

The common size rule for UL listed stoves is that the hearth area must extend 18” beyond any opening of the firebox and extend 8” beyond non opening sides. Therefore a stove with a side load option as well as a front loading door will require 18” on the two opening sides and 8” beyond the other two sides .

Most wood burning stoves require only non combustible ember protection construction while other models will specify a required R factor for thermal protection under the product as well.

Pre-made UL tested hearths may be purchased in a variety or sizes, shapes and styles and in either ember protection or with a specified R factor.

To learn more about hearths for wood, pellet and gas stoves, follow the link below.